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Monday, November 17, 2008 12:00 AM

Bill Ayers talks back

Sarah Palin called him a terrorist, Barack Obama called him an acquaintance. A Salon editor who knew Ayers back when talks to the ex-Weather Underground member turned Republican talking point.

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  • Monday, November 17, 2008 09:35 AM

    About those "spat upon" soldiers, Susan

    @SusanGSMcGee:

    I had an epiphany last week about the "spat upon" soldier myth that never dies.

    The story goes that uniformed servicemen, fresh off the plane from a year's service in a jungle war, were spat on by hippies and called a murder. And the soldier stands there and takes it, presumably hurt to the core by such ingratitude.

    Pause to run that scenario in your mind.

    A hardened man, used to killing and being shot at on a daily basis, a wired, extremely traumatized young man in extremely good condition and trained in hand to hand combat, stands there and lets it happen? Not only that soldier, but countless others, as the right wing keeps telling us?

    And that soldier didn't kill or maim the spitter? All of those soldiers? Really?

    Don't recall any "hippies" going to the hospital after such incidents. Amazing, as that would be included in the narrative with great joy by anyone who would be inclined to believe such things happened.

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